25 Years of Pioneering Care at Shriners Children's Neil Reitman Pediatric Burn Institute

Fifty years ago, the Sacramento area experienced a catastrophic aviation tragedy when a vintage airplane taking off from Sacramento Executive Airport crashed into a Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlor, killing 23 people and leaving dozens of others severely burned. It was horrific.

The accident affirmed the concerns of area firefighters – Sacramento lacked the kind of specialized care needed for those with severe burn injuries.

This tragedy became the springboard for a coordinated response in the Sacramento region. Through the visionary efforts of previous Sacramento Fire Department Capt. Cliff Haskell and Firefighters Local 522, the nonprofit Firefighters Burn Institute (FFBI) was created. The organization’s leaders began working with community leaders and UC Davis Health on developing a comprehensive burn program for the region, located at the Sacramento Medical Center, which soon after became UC Davis Medical Center. A decade later, Shriners Children’s leadership approached UC Davis Health leadership to discuss the possibility of building a new multidisciplinary hospital on their campus. The leadership of UC Davis Health and FFBI both recognized the significant contributions of Shriners Children’s to advancements in acute and reconstructive burn care since the 1960s. They also recognized the transformative impact that Shriners Children’s would have on the region by bringing a world-class burn program to its new hospital in Sacramento.

During the 25 years since Shriners Children’s Northern California opened its doors across the street from UC Davis Health, the hospital has grown to be a preeminent medical and research facility, housing one of the most sought-after burn surgeon fellowship programs in the country. Shriners Children’s provides some of the most advanced care available to burn survivors, and treats children and young adults from our region and from around the world.